News

Lawyers support TAS Greens’ pill testing Bill

22nd Nov 2018

The Australian Lawyers Alliance has given its support to the Tasmanian Greens’ Misuse of Drugs Amendment (Drug Analysis) Bill 2018 being tabled today.

“Year after year there are deaths and serious harm at music festivals and pill testing will help minimise this,” said spokesperson for the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA), Greg Barns. “The government has a responsibility to ensure that these festivals are safe and we know that pill testing will save lives.

“The ACT pill testing exercise earlier this year was very successful and, of course, in Europe they allow testing.

“The Falls Festival is coming up and every year police use sniffer dogs and make arrests. Young people then are shunted through the court system. This approach does not reduce demand for drugs and does not recognise the reality of drug use at music festivals.”

Pill testing facilities at festivals is supported by many health and medical organisations and is widely acknowledged as an effective tool for harm minimisation.

“The reality is that young people will experiment with drugs and they are being needlessly exposed to death or physical and mental harm when we have the ability to prevent this through pill testing,” said Mr Barns.

“The Greens’ proposed Bill provides the regulations and strategies we need to help ensure safety, and to address the issues around drug use in our community.”